62 MB. G. BENTHAM OK TILIACE.E. 



Tiliaceous affinity, reminding one rather of some Combretacece ; 

 but the androecium, gynoecium, and fruit are quite Tiliaceous. 

 Opposite leaves occur also in some species of Sloanea, Elceocar- 

 pus, <5c, and the plan of inflorescence, although disguised, is 

 essentially that of the majority of Tiliacece. The perianth is 

 anomalous, appearing at first simple ; but a careful examination 

 shows minute external tooth-like segments, which are the true 

 Bepals ; whilst the more conspicuous segments, although pubes- 

 cent, sepaloid, and valvate, must be regarded as petals. An 

 approach to a similar arrangement may be observed in Tricus- 

 pidaria and in those Somalia, in which the inner segments or 

 petals enlarge much more than the outer ones or sepals. 



Sloanea, Linn. 



The investigation of the uncertain characters by which the 

 genera Ablania, Aubl., Dasynema, Schott, and Dasycarpus, Oerst., 

 have been distinguished from Sloanea, having obliged me to ex- 

 amine and analyse all the species of the group of which we have 

 specimens, I have drawn up a general synopsis, which I now give, 

 premising that not one of the proposed characters has appeared 

 sufficient to establish even good sections ; the best division of 

 the genus that I could form being derived from inflorescence. 



Series I. Pakiculatje. 



Panicula terminalis corymbosa, folia superans. Antherae lineares 



vix apiculatse. 



1. S. corymbiflora, DC. Poliis tenuiter coriaceis venulosis, se- 

 palis membranaceis, alabastro oblongo. 



2. S. durissima, Spruce. Foliis crasso-coriaceis nitidis, vemdis 

 inconspicuis, pediceDis incrassatis, sepalis crassis, alabastro 

 ovoideo. 



3. S. lacciflora, Spruce. Poliis tenuiter coriaceis venulosis, pe- 

 dicellis vix incrassatis, sepalis crassis, alabastro ovoideo. 



4. S. paniculata, Spruce. Poliis crasso-coriaceis nitidis basi 

 cordatis, sepalis brevibus crassis, alabastro subgloboso. 



Series II. Cobymbulos.e. 



Pedunculi axillares, apice corymboso-paniculati, foliis (amplis) 



breviores. 



5. 8. synandra, Spruce. Sepalis crassis 9-10 lin. longis, antheris 

 * vix apiculatis subcohserentibus. 



